Professors are "expected" to be published in these journals in large Universities. They basically will never advance their career without be published in a "major journal."

Early career academics are a slave to the system for career advancement; late career (successful) academics are too complacent to want to change. The only way the parent's idea will take root is if established academicians vote with their own writing, and go on a mission to convince others in their sphere of influence.

As you say, to do this as a young researcher is career suicide.

If they have the will and the guts they'll do it or is Elsevier going to cream off taxpayers' money for ever and a day? Gower has said "no" http://thecostofknowledge.com/ - how about a few others?

> If they have the will and the guts they'll do it

The only thing "will and guts" do when all your field's high IF journals are big publishers is give you the boot.

> Gower has said "no"

Gower was a Fields medalist, Royal Society fellow and Shaw selection committee member before saying no, his stand is nice but he's not what I'm talking about.

> how about a few others?

Many have signed the petition and possibly more have actually done the work of trying to set up or raise the profile of open-access journals.